LIVERPOOL are homing in on Blackburn Rovers defender Stephane Henchoz, as the vultures start to circle after relegation was sealed at Ewood last night.

Manager Gerard Houllier, assistant Phil Thompson and, significantly, executive vice-chairman Peter Robinson were all at Ewood last night to see the game against Manchester United which clinched Rovers' fate. And I understand from impeccable sources that Swiss international Henchoz is the man in their sights.

They have watched him on previous occasions and Houllier is desperate to strengthen the Anfield defence.

Henchoz has only one year remaining on his contract and Rovers are faced this summer with making a decision on whether to try to persuade him to accept new terms or sell him before he becomes available for free under Bosman.

The player himself has refused to discuss his future until the end of the season. But he could be tempted by Liverpool. There have also been suggestions he would prefer to return to the continent.

Chris Sutton is another player whose future will come under the spotlight, though the injured striker promised some time ago that he would stay at Ewood next season no matter what happened in the relegation battle.

Premiership clubs, however, are bound to show increasing interest.

As manager Brian Kidd begins the massive task of rebuilding Rovers, players were quick to pledge their loyalty to the club last night.

Key men such as skipper Jason Wilcox and player of the year John Filan both promised - We are staying put. Others, such as potential stars David Dunn and Damien Johnson, also made it clear they were not looking for an easy way out and the club have most players on long-term contracts. The exit door, however, will surely be opened to those players who Kidd does not feel have a role to play in his vision of the Ewood future.

Rovers have struggled from one calamity to the next and have only themselves to blame for bowing out of the top flight.

Kidd was highly emotional after last night's game - what else would you expect from a man who wears his heart on his sleeve? - and the occasion was too much for some fans who simply broke down and wept.

"It is a huge disappointment and I am not in the best of humour to be honest," he said, struggling to face up to the barrage of questions.

"Talk is cheap and we will have to see what happens but I have told the players to get their heads up. There's no point hanging your head now.

"This is reality, it's a fact of life and we have to get on with it.

"I knew the problems we had and I don't make excuses. We had our chance against Southampton, Charlton and Forest, no disrespect to them. "You have to play for your pride in every game."

Striker Ashley Ward had one golden opportunity last night when it looked as though he might win the game and keep Rovers' hopes alive for a couple more days.

But it went begging.

"It's something you can't get out of your mind now," he said. "It comes at you so quickly and the keeper spread himself. I thought it would be the best idea to chip it over him and I was just trying to steer it into the corner.

"We could have been going into the last game with a slim chance. But the lads have been different class.

"Everybody realises it's over a 38-game season, not just down to one chance."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.